A phenomenological analysis of the principals and teachers' perceptions and experiences of the school management excellence program in Sanandaj secondary schools

Azizi, N. , Fathi, H. and Hosseini, S.Z. (2020) A phenomenological analysis of the principals and teachers' perceptions and experiences of the school management excellence program in Sanandaj secondary schools. Journal of School Administration, 8(3), pp. 239-273.

Abstract

As a phenomenological study this paper aims to analyze the perceptions and experiences of principals and teachers of secondary schools in Sanandaj from the school management excellence program. Given the need for in-depth information on how participants perceived and experienced the nature of the School Management Excellence Program, its implementation mechanisms, effects and outcomes, as well as its potential harms, a qualitative phenomenological approach was applied to conduct the study. Participants including 29 principals and teachers of high schools who were purposefully selected and interviewed and the findings were analyzed using qualitative data analysis method. The findings showed that participants' perceptions of the nature and scope of the excellence program vary depending on their critical or conservative and sometimes praiseworthy approach which ultimately formulated in a comprehensive concept, three themes organizing level two and thirteen topics organizing level one. Accordingly, despite the fact that in their opinion, the school management excellence program has some problems in terms of nature and structure, but it also has both positive and negative effects and consequences. This finding indicated that despite the advantages such as orderliness and providing a platform for uniform implementation of high school instruction guidelines, due to the linear nature and compliance of such a program with a centralized approach, this program essentially opposes with the spirit learning processes in schools as an important cultural institutions.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Azizi, Professor Nematollah
• Authors: Azizi, N., Fathi, H., and Hosseini, S.Z.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Education
• Journal Name: Journal of School Administration
• Publisher: University of Kurdistan
• ISSN: 2538-4724
• ISSN (Online): 2538-4732